datapro :: datapro reports 70s-90s :: Atari :: M09-080-10 8207 Atari Atari400 800

MO9-080-101
Personal Computers

Atari 400 and 800

The Atari 800 shown here consists of a 16KB RAM, cassette
program recorder, 40-cps 4-inch roll printer, 5!4-inch 88KB
mint-diskette drive, and a user-supplied color TV set or monitor.
Programs can be loaded either via plug-in ROM cartridges,
cassette tapes, or diskettes. The 800 is programmable in Basic or
Assembly language.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Atari Computer Division, a Warner Communications
Company, 1265 Borregas Ave., P.O. Box 427, Sunnyvale,
CA 94086. Telephone (408) 942-6500.

When Atari entered the personal computer marketplace in
1979, it came as no great surprise to the industry. With
revenues of about $200 million per year and a highly
successful track record in manufacturing and marketing
high technology consumer electronic games, it was natural
for Atari to turn its attention to personal computers.

Atari sells two personal computers: the Atari 400 and
Atari 800. The 400 is a limited size (16K bytes), low-end
system intended for home use. The 800 has more RAM
capacity and is capable of handling small business and
professional applications, as well as sophisticated home
processing applications.

Atari has entered into a license agreement with Control
Data Corporation for servicing the Atari computers.
Under this agreement, CDC service centers nationwide
have established Atari repair facilities, and can fix most
problems in a 48-hour period. Atari has also entered into
an agreement with CDC whereby Atari is marketing four
CDC CYBERWARE investment programs that run on
the Atari 800.

In addition to relying on its strong distribution network,
Atari stresses that a major selling point of the 400 and 800
systems is the use of plug-in ROM cartridges. These
cartridges provide low-cost, easy-to-use program
availability.

JULY 1982

Current models: Atari 400; Atari 800.

Memory: 16KB-48KB RAM, 88KB-352KB mini disk-
ette.

Workstations: not applicable.

Base list price: Atari 400—$399 including processor,
16KB RAM, keyboard, built-in RF modulator, internal
speaker. Atari 8300—$899 including same as Atari 400
plus Basic cartridge, different keyboard, monitor jack.

Typical list prices: Atari 400 (student)—$5665 including
same as base configuration plus educator kit; Atari
800—$1,675 including processor 48KB RAM, disk
drive, 80 column printer, interface module, cables.

Primary uses: accounting, personal finance, communi-
cations, education, entertainment, math/statistics,
word processing.

Popular options: from Atari—joystick, paddles, print-
ers, mini disk drive, add-on memory, modems; from
independents—home controller, graphic |/O tablet,
plotter.

Principal programming languages: Basic, Assembly,
PILOT.

Principal applications software: personal finance,
music, education systems, statistics, games.

First shipment: 1979.

Number installed to date: information not available.

Current shipment rate: information not available.

Available through: about 875 direct and indirect
vendors, computer dealers and electronics specialty
shops, Sears Roebuck and Penney’s.

SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

The Atari computers are compact units consisting of a
keyboard chassis which holds the plug-in ROM and
provides a serial I/O port for external peripherals and four
controller jacks for joystick and paddle controllers. Four
independent sound synthesizers are incorporated into the
console along with an internal speaker.

Each system contains an RF modulator which enables it
to connect to any TV. Text is displayed in three modes and
graphics in nine modes. The keyboard provides 57’
alphanumeric keys plus four special function keys.

The differences between the two systems are as follows: 1)
RAM capacity: 16K bytes on the 400, 16K bytes
expandable to 48K bytes on the 800; 2) keyboard:
monopanel, touch sensitive on the 400, regular typewriter-
style on the 800; 3) a jack on the 800 enabling the system to
be used with a monitor instead of a TV if desired; 4) ROM
cartridge slots: one on the 400, two on the 800.

The Atari 400 is capable of attaching game controls, a
cassette recorder, and a 40-column printer as external
peripherals in addition to a TV set display monitor. An
acoustic modem with an interface module is also available.

The 800 can use all of the Atari controllers and peripherals
as well as support all of the 400’s programs. Additionally,
up to four 88K byte diskette drives can be attached to the
Atari 800. It can utilize 40 or 100 cps printers, as well as
several packages not available on the Atari 400.

© 1982 DATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA

REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED

MO9-080-102
Personal Computers

Atari 400 and 800

HARDWARE/PACKAGING

PROCESSOR/MEMORY

Model: 6502 microprocessor; 8 bits

RAM: Atari 400—16KB; Atari 800—16KB-48KB in 8KB ($49.95)
or 16KB ($99.95) increments

ROM: Atari 400— 10KB internal, 2KB-16KB cartridge; Atari 8300—
10KB internal, 2KB-16KB cartridge

DISPLAY

Model: color or B/W TY set (or monitor with Atari 800)

Number: none provided; maximum of one furnished by user

Screen size: any size

Chars./screen: 960 (40 chars./line, 24 lines); 480 (20 chars. /line, 24
lines); 240 (20 chars./line, 12 lines)

Char. type: upper/lower case; 8 x 8 matrix

Features: up to 5 of 16 colors in 8 luminance levels; normal or inverse
characters

Graphics: nine modes, from 40 x 24 up to 320 x 192

Interface: integral cable plug; RF modulator included

KEYBOARD

Type: Atari 400—typewriter style, non-tactile, fixed; Atari 800—
typewriter style, tactile, fixed

No. of keys: 57, ASCII character set

Interface: integral connection

DIRECT ACCESS STORAGE
Model: Atari 810

Type: 514” mini diskette drive
Capacity/drive: 88KB
Drives/system: 1-4; 4/controller
Avg. access time: 74 milliseconds
Transfer rate: 19.2KBS
-Interface: 1 port

Price: $599.95 with controller

PRINTERS
Model: 820 822 825
Type: matrix, matrix, matrix,
impact thermal impact
Paper: plain paper, thermal, roll, —_ fanfold, tractor,
roll, 4” 4” 9.5” single
sheets
Char. set: 96 96 96
Chars./line: 40 40 80
Speed: 40 cps 37 cps 100 cps
Interface: cable cable Interface
($49.95) ($49.95) Module
($219.95)
Price: $299.95 $249.95 $799.95

DATA COMMUNICATIONS
Model: Atari 830 Modem, ($199.95)
Trans. mode: half/full-duplex
Protocol: asynchronous

Lines: one

Speed, 300 bps

Interface: Interface module, ($219.95)

OTHER I/O

Magnetic tape: Atari 410 program recorder, ($99.95)

Game controls: 2 handheld paddles ($21.95), 2 joysticks ($21.95)
Loudspeaker: built-in; 4-channel audio channel through TV set

1/0 ELECTRONICS
Structure: 4 controller input jacks; Atari 400—1 external and 1
internal cartridge slot, Atari 800—2 external and 3 internal

© 1982 DATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA

cartridge slots, 1 high speed serial I/O port, can connect Model 850
Interface Module to provide 4 RS-232 serial ports and 1 parallel
port

SOFTWARE

LANGUAGES

Basic: Atari Basic (ROM cartridge—$59.95; included with Atari
800); Microsoft Basic (diskette—$89.95)

Assembler: Assembler Editor (ROM cartridge—$59.95); Macro
Assembler and program text editor (diskette—$89.95)

PILOT: home package ($79.95); educator’s package ($129.95)

OPERATING SYSTEM

Name: Atari Operating System

System requirements: 10KB ROM included with system
Concurrent tasks: one

Other functions: I/O device handling, keyboard and screen editing

UTILITIES
Sort: no
Text editor: no

DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Name: none specified

COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT

Name: Telelink I ($29.95)

System requirements: modem and interface module

Functions: allows access to databases and communications with
other type of computers

APPLICATIONS PROGRAMS

Accounting: Bookkeeper

Education: education system master cartridge ($24.95), 16 education
system cassettes (set of 4 for each subject—$29.95), educational
game cassettes ($14.95); energy czar, hangman, kingdom, states &
capitals, European countries and capitals; invitation to pro-
gramming ($24.95-$29.95), biorhythm ($14.95), conversational
French, German, Spanish and Italian ($59.95 each), music
composer ($59.95), touch typing ($24.95)

Entertainment: ROM cartridges ($34.95-$54.95): basketball,
computer chess, star raiders, super breakout, 3-D tic-tac-toe, video
easel; space invaders, asteroids, missile command, pac-man,
centipede; cassettes: blackjack ($14.95)

Finance: bond analysis ($24.95), Dow Jones investment evaluation
($129.95); graph it ($19.95), mortgage & loan analysis ($19.95),
personal financial management ($74.95) stock analysis ($24.95),
stock charting ($29.95)

Math/ Statistics: calculator ($39.95), statistics ($19.95)

Word Processing: Atari Word Processor ($149.95)

Others: Mailing List ($24.95), Home Filing Manager

SUPPORT SERVICES

DOCUMENTATION
Range: about 14 manuals available from $3.95 to $29.95 apiece

SUPPORT

Training & education: none from Atari; available at discretion of
dealer

Maintenance: available through Control Data Corporation Service
Centers by agreement with Atari and some vendors

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Lease terms: none

Discounts: none officially; available at retail level; some dealers and
mail-order houses will offer up to 15% off list

Warranties: 90-days—parts and labor

Software terms: none specified @

JULY 1982

REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED